Chief Minister Gallagher has weighed in on the bus lane v T2 debate (bearing in mind that the “one nation on wheels” courting Liberals are mad keen for T2’s).
Katy is citing research purportedly hidden somewhere on the TAMS website, showing T2’s are kind of useless, but bus lanes are grand!
“Surveys undertaken during the morning peak period along Barry Drive, show that 1800 people were being moved in 31 buses along the corridor between 7.45 am and 9.15 am. This made up around 25% of all people travelling during that period, with that figure expected to increase over time.
“What the AECOM review found is that the installation of a T2 lane would reduce the average speed of a bus, thus reducing its attractiveness as a transport option, which potentially could lead to more cars on the road, not less,” the Chief Minister said.
The report recommends the development of guidelines for the appropriate location and uses for transit and bus lanes across the Territory which take into consideration factors such as traffic safety, congestion and transport sustainability.
“The report shows that it is too simplistic for people to look at a bus lane and say it looks empty, when in actual fact it carries a significant proportion of people – and in quicker time than adjacent traffic lanes.
“For example, on Adelaide Avenue, the report found that the T2 lane provides less than a 15 second benefit to motorists in peak periods.
“The report also confirmed there were potential issues with drivers merging in and out of the Adelaide Avenue transit lane and additional safety measures which will need to be investigated,” the Chief Minister said
UPDATE: Thanks the TAMS staff for pointing us at the report